Here be Dragons – head to the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, this half-term - Thursday, 2 February 2012

Celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon by heading to the Royal Armouries, Leeds, this February half-term for a low-cost day out for all the family.

Britain’s oldest museum has lined up a host of dragon-themed activities to keep the kids out of mischief from Saturday, February 11, to Sunday, February 19.

Museum admission is free and highlights include a free Petting Zoo on Tuesday, February 14, and Friday, February 17 – complete with Bearded Dragons, Monitor Lizards and other weird and wonderful reptiles.

Other family activities will run as follows. Some activities are free but others carry a small charge (marked with a £).

Dragons’ Quest – Hunt for dragons in the galleries – can you find them all and win a prize? (Free).

Dragon’s Wood – Are you brave enough to enter the maze and save the princess from the fearsome dragon? (£).

Dragon masks – Make your own scary mask to take home (£).

Children’s film shows (Free).

Visitors can also explore the rest of the museum – home to the national collection of arms and armour – with 8,500 historic items on show in a series of themed galleries; War, Tournament, Oriental, Self Defence and Hunting.

The Tournament Gallery is newly refurbished and allows visitors to experience of might of Henry VIII – king and sportsman.

The museum’s children’s play area, The Jester’s Yard, will also be open, along with the Crossbow Range.

The February half-term activities are just part of the Royal Armouries’ Dangerously Entertaining events programme for 2012. For more information and for opening times, visit www.royalarmouries.org

...ENDS...

Notes to editors

Royal Armouries is the national museum of arms and armour and has sites in Leeds, HM Tower of London, Fort Nelson and Louisville, Kentucky. It is the first British national museum to open a permanent presence in another country

Admission to the museum is free. However, there may be a small charge for some special events.